Found this whilst browsing:-
https://www.desertmuseum.org/books/nhsd ... _soils.php" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Desert Soils
Re: Desert Soils
Interesting
Re: Desert Soils
Dr. MacAuliffe is a real soil expert. Here's a very detailed look at bajadas in the Tucson area:
http://www.uwyo.edu/vegecology/pdfs/rea ... 201994.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
peterb
http://www.uwyo.edu/vegecology/pdfs/rea ... 201994.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
peterb
Zone 9
Re: Desert Soils
You may be interested in these too then Peter:-
http://www.sipaliwinisavanna.com/docs/d ... tation.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sipaliwinisavanna.com/docs/d ... _plate.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sipaliwinisavanna.com/docs/d ... slopes.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See also the comments under "Soil and Potting" in the following link:-
"Contrary to a common misconception, limestone soils are not highly alkaline - limestone itself is virtually insoluble in water and the amount of calcium bicarbonate, which has only a very mildly alkaline reaction, produced at any one time is tiny and transient as it is quickly consumed by neutralizing acidic constituents in the soil (humic acids etc.), facilitating the release of essential minerals from complex clay structures and by the plant itself. Limestone soils are, therefore generally slightly on the acid side of neutral to slightly on the alkaline side of neutral (pH7.0)."
http://www.living-rocks.com/adult.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Regarding how fact plants grow in habitat and how quickly vegetation colonises these areas and hence produces organic material for cacti growing on rocks or in such rock crevices a contributor on another forum made this remark:-
"I observed a population of Rebutia senilis in Qda. Escoipe which in 2009 was almost destroyed by rock slide and in 2012 the rock which in 2009 was bare, was covered in moss and lichens and in this moss there were several groups of Rebutia seedlings with flowerbuds already."
http://www.sipaliwinisavanna.com/docs/d ... tation.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sipaliwinisavanna.com/docs/d ... _plate.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
http://www.sipaliwinisavanna.com/docs/d ... slopes.pdf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
See also the comments under "Soil and Potting" in the following link:-
"Contrary to a common misconception, limestone soils are not highly alkaline - limestone itself is virtually insoluble in water and the amount of calcium bicarbonate, which has only a very mildly alkaline reaction, produced at any one time is tiny and transient as it is quickly consumed by neutralizing acidic constituents in the soil (humic acids etc.), facilitating the release of essential minerals from complex clay structures and by the plant itself. Limestone soils are, therefore generally slightly on the acid side of neutral to slightly on the alkaline side of neutral (pH7.0)."
http://www.living-rocks.com/adult.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
Regarding how fact plants grow in habitat and how quickly vegetation colonises these areas and hence produces organic material for cacti growing on rocks or in such rock crevices a contributor on another forum made this remark:-
"I observed a population of Rebutia senilis in Qda. Escoipe which in 2009 was almost destroyed by rock slide and in 2012 the rock which in 2009 was bare, was covered in moss and lichens and in this moss there were several groups of Rebutia seedlings with flowerbuds already."